AL notes.

Not Everything About The Indians Is Perfect

The pitcher they call "El Perfecto" has been anything but perfect since his All-Star first half, and now Cleveland's Dennis Martinez may lose his security blanket for the playoffs.

Martinez, who was 9-0 with a 2.35 earned-run average in his first 16 starts this season, is 1-5 in his last 10 while his ERA has jumped to 3.07. His numbers are still better than the vast majority of his major-league peers, but some are wondering whether his 40-year-old arm is tiring as the postseason approaches.

Until recently, veteran Tony Pena was Martinez's personal catcher, sort of like Tim McCarver was Steve Carlton's when they played for Philadelphia. Pena caught Martinez for 31 consecutive starts dating back to last season, and Martinez was 15-6 with his man behind the plate.

Regular starting catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. returned on June 29 after missing most of the first half due to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Pena was having trouble throwing runners out, and, with the AL Central clinched, manager Mike Hargrove has decided that Alomar will catch Martinez to prepare for the playoffs.

"Anytime you can have your No. 1 starter and No. 1 catcher in the game at the same time, it's a plus," Hargrove said. ", in a short series, where Dennis might pitch twice, I'd have to have Sandy Alomar on the bench in two of the five games."

Pena, a proud veteran who is one of the most respected players on the Indians, is hurt by the decision but won't say anything to hurt the team. The usually cooperative Martinez left without talking to reporters after losing his first start with Alomar behind the plate.

If Alomar's knee problems creep up in the cool weather, Pena may yet be re-teamed with Martinez in October.

Matter of respect: Baltimore pitcher Kevin Brown was fined an undisclosed amount after flipping the ball to manager Phil Regan during a pitching change in a recent game.

Every professional pitcher knows this is not acceptable behavior. Had Brown played under Billy Martin and pulled the same stunt, he might've been decked right there on the mound. Amazingly, Brown denied afterward that he was being disrespectful to Regan, saying he was frustrated.

"I was obviously upset because I wasn't able to make that play," Brown said. "I wasn't trying to show anybody up."

Said Regan: "It's over now. It's forgotten as far as I'm concerned."

Laugh-in: Though California went 1-8 on a recent road trip, the Angels lead in the AL West shrank only two games, from 7 1/2 to 5 1/2 games.

"Our season is like good comedy," pitcher Chuck Finley remarked. "You know the secret to comedy . . . timing."

But the Angels' slide has continued unabated and Seattle may get the last laugh now. California's 11-game first-place lead of Aug. 9 was down to a half-game over the Mariners heading into Wednesday night, and Finley's highly publicized "roll over and die" insult aimed at the White Sox last June may have been a prophetic epitaph for the '95 Halos.

California has a chance to go down as one of baseball's great team collapses. The slide may feed the imaginations of those who believe in the so-called ex-Cub factor. Shawn Boskie, Mike Harkey, Mike Bielecki, Lee Smith and Scott Sanderson are all ex-Cubs, and the theory goes that no team can win a World Series with three or more on its roster.

Staying put: Everyone seemed to be focusing on Kirby Puckett's escape clause this summer, while no one noticed that Cal Ripken Jr. also has a clause that can get him out of his five-year, $30.5 million contract after this year, the third year in the deal. Orioles owner Peter Angelos said the unthinkable will never happen.

"I can say without reservation that he will complete his career with the Orioles," said Angelos. "He began his career as an Oriole, and he'll end it as an Oriole."

Same old song: Where have we heard this before? "We will either be allowed to get the facilities necessary to generate revenue necessary to be competitive, or the problem will be solved by moving into other cities."

Give up? It's Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad, joining in the ever-growing chorus of pro sports owners demanding goodies for their team and threatening to move the franchise if the demands aren't met. The Twins are seeking changes in the Metrodome that would generate an extra $1 million per game.